More than 400 Utica Community Schools students earned top honors through the rigorous college-level Advanced Placement (AP) program.

The College Board, which administers the AP tests, has announced that 414 UCS students have received national scholar designations.

“This recognition reflects the work of our students to challenge themselves with college-level courses,” superintendent Dr. Christine Johns said. “We are committed to providing all students greater access to these rigorous programs to prepare them for success in college and career.”

The students were honored at the Oct. 10 UCS Board of Education meeting.

AP courses, which are offered at secondary schools, give students the opportunity to earn credit or advanced standing at most of the nation’s colleges and universities.

Students must successfully pass a test administered by the College Board to earn the college credit. Students are graded on a scale of 1 to 5, with 5 being the highest.

Honors earned by UCS students include:

National Scholar status to 16 students who received an average score of at least 4 on all AP Exams taken, and scores of 4 or higher on eight or more of these exams.

AP Scholar with Distinction status to 102 students who received an average score of at least 3.5 on all AP Exams taken, and scores of 3 or higher on five or more of these exams.

AP Scholar with Honor status to 81 students who received an average score of at least 3.25 on all AP Exams taken, and scores of 3 or higher on four or more of these exams.

AP Scholar status to 215 students who received scores of 3 or higher on three or more AP Exams.

In the 2015-2016 school year, 2,160 UCS students took a total of 3,290 AP exams.